South Africa has been left reeling after a series of shooting incidents across different parts of the country left at least 27 people dead over the weekend. The attacks occurred in townships near the country’s two largest cities, Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The first attack took place late Saturday night at a bar in Wedela township, southwest of Johannesburg, when eight gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols stormed the venue and opened fire. Seventeen people were killed on the spot, and 15 others were seriously injured. According to police, the attackers first opened fire on customers drinking outside the bar before moving inside to continue the assault. Officers said some of the assailants took cell phones from customers before fleeing the scene in two vehicles. No arrests have been made so far, and police said via a statement on X that a manhunt is underway for the suspects. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and authorities have not yet identified who was responsible or why the venue was targeted.
In a separate incident, a shooting was reported early Sunday morning at a store in Lwandle township near Cape Town. Ten people were killed at the scene, and 11 others sustained serious injuries.
The two attacks come just days after a shooting at a house party near Durban, in which three gunmen killed 11 people, including a pregnant woman. Police are conducting extensive searches for suspects in connection with all three incidents. The string of attacks has left residents in the affected areas deeply shaken and fearful.